The Eldred Township supervisors don’t plan to raise taxes in the upcoming budget.

“Expenses are going up, as they are everywhere. However, the good news there is no proposed tax increase for next year. Obviously we have to watch the dollars and the pennies,” said Gary Hoffman, the chairman of the supervisors, said a recent meeting.

Hoffman said they are keeping the donations consistent with last year, and will be reviewing sewage fees to see if that needs to be increased.

The supervisors will vote on the budget at their meeting on Dec. 18.

In other business. The township received a $750,975 local share account grant from the state and a $92,600 local LSA grant, both to be used for the renovation of the Old Stone Arch Bridge.

“Our public works did go down and seal the bridge,” said Supervisor Scott Clark. The work was done in order to try to keep some of the winter weather from causing more damage to the bridge.

Jonathon Gula, the supervisor of the Public Works Department, said they have also updated the emergency lighting in the municipal building with LED lights, added occupancy switches in the bathrooms, fixed an issue with floor drains in the Public Works building, and got the trucks ready for winter weather.

The Public Works Department also has a position open and is looking to hire someone. Anyone interested in the position should contact the township office.

Fire Chief Brian Stankovich, of the Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company, said they submitted an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to help cover the cost of 12 new air packs to upgrade and replace old air packs. The equipment costs about $136,000. The ones they have currently were purchased in 2007, and the compliance expires in 2026.

Stankovich said the grant is through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The department applies for the grant every year and last year was awarded enough to purchase a washer and dryer that can handle care of their gear.

Stankovich said they also plan to apply for a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for two new pumps for brush fires. The grant is a 50-50 matching grant of up to $15,000, and applicants are eligible every five years.

“Every time we take our brush trucks out, we’re repairing them when we get back,” Stankovich said. “They’re 40 plus years old and we just can’t operate like that anymore.”

In all, Stankovich said it should cost about $38,000, and he anticipates the fire department will spend $23,000 out of pocket to get everything. The department recently purchased some electric power tools for the trucks with surplus in relief money.

Hoffman said the township has submitted a grant for three automated external defibrillators: one will be in the meeting room in the municipal building, one at the community center, and one for the public works truck in case they arrive to the scene of an emergency before emergency crews. The pads and batteries expire in the packs.

Gula added, “We keep eight sets on hand, so we have backups.”

The following was also mentioned at the meeting:

• December is kids’ month at the Eldred Township Community Center Thrift Store. The center will have extended shopping hours until 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 19, and;

• The Eldred Township Veterans Commission is seeking more members. People do not have to be residents of Eldred Township.